A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Draffin family of Ireland.
Reg. 8141 · Irish, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Az. a fleur-de-lis or, betw. two lions ramp. ar. on a chief of the third three mullets gu”
DublinHyde Park · Dublin, c. 1645
Where the Draffin Arms Were Recorded
Dublin
Map of Ireland showing where the Draffin arms are recorded
The Draffin arms were recorded in Dublin, c. 1645.
Dublin was the seat of government in Ireland and the place where grants were sought and recorded. Families with business at the castle or the courts settled nearby, and settling there put their arms on record.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Ireland in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Ireland when the Draffin arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Ireland
The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.
Granting authority
The Ulster King of Arms acted as the official body that regulated and issued all coats of arms throughout Ireland.
How they got arms
Families obtained their arms through formal grants issued by the office after proving their eligibility and paying the required fees.
Where arms were recorded
All official grants were recorded in the registers held by the Ulster King of Arms starting from the year 1552.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Dublin.
Origin & History of the Draffin Family in Ireland
The Draffin family name has roots that trace back to the mid-seventeenth century in Ireland, with documented evidence placing family members in Dublin by 1645. During this period, Dublin was a bustling center of trade and political activity, serving as a primary hub for families navigating the complex social changes of the era. The name is often associated with the northern regions of the British Isles, suggesting that early ancestors likely migrated to Ireland during the waves of movement that defined the seventeenth century. As these individuals settled into the urban environment of Dublin, they became part of the city’s growing administrative and merchant classes. By establishing themselves in the capital during this time, the early Draffin family secured a place within the historical record of a city undergoing significant transformation.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
O Draighneáin
Derived from the Irish word for a blackthorn or hawthorn bush.
This name
DraffinRefers to a descendant of one who lived near a thicket of thorny bushes.
also spelled
Draffin
Drafin
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland, 1985
National Archives of Ireland, Civil Survey of the County of Dublin, 1654-1656
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